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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1997–2002

Saturn S-Series Sedan recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 17 owner complaints for the Saturn S-Series Sedan, covering model years 1997 to 2002. The 1999 and 2001 model years drew the most complaints (4 each), and Engine and Engine Cooling is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Saturn S-Series Sedan VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 17 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 6 model years with data (1997–2002)
  • most complaints: 1999, 2001 (4 for that model year)
  • top component: Engine and Engine Cooling (6 complaints)
  • latest recall 02V020000 (reported Jan 17, 2002)
  • 3 complaints reporting a crash (17.6%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 2 complaints reporting an injury (11.8%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Saturn S-Series Sedan complaints by model year

6 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1999 and 2001 model years share the highest count, 4 complaints each. Next come 2000 (3) and 2002 (3). The fewest are for 1998, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Saturn S-Series Sedan owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1997–2002Column chart of 17 complaints across 6 model years. The highest are 1999, 2001 with 4 each. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1997: 2 complaints219971998: 1 complaint119981999: 4 complaints419992000: 3 complaints320002001: 4 complaints420012002: 3 complaints32002
Saturn S-Series Sedan complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Saturn S-Series Sedan complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
199720000
199810000
199941010
200030000
200140000
200232010
All model years173020

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Saturn S-Series Sedan components

top 11 · NHTSA categories

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often, in 6 complaints (35.3% of all 17), followed by Electrical System (4) and Air Bags (2).

Components named most often in Saturn S-Series Sedan complaints (top 11)
Components named most often in Saturn S-Series Sedan complaints (top 11)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Engine and Engine Cooling635.3%
Electrical System423.5%
Air Bags211.8%
Power Train211.8%
Child Seat15.9%
Exterior Lighting15.9%
Fuel System, Other15.9%
Seat Belts15.9%
Seats15.9%
Service Brakes, Air15.9%
Visibility15.9%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Saturn S-Series Sedan recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name S-Series Sedan, newest first. The only campaign, 02V020000, covers model year 2002.

  • 1 recall campaign
Saturn S-Series Sedan recall campaigns covering each model year
2002: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 02V020000

    Reported

    Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage

    Model year 2002

    Certain sedans fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages," and No. 214, "side impact protection." These vehicles were manufactured with welds between the door striker and belt-line that do not meet Saturn specifications.

    Consequence:
    If the seat belt anchorage on the pillar failed in a crash, the driver could be injured more seriously. In a side impact, occupants could also be injured more seriously because of greater intrusion or reduced performance of the optional side curtain air bag.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will install additional structural fasteners to the driver's side door pillar. Owner notification began January 22, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt #3.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Saturn S-Series Sedan questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Saturn S-Series Sedan have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Saturn S-Series Sedan, covering model years 1997 to 2002. The campaign, 02V020000, was reported on January 17, 2002 and is filed under “Seat belts”.

Which Saturn S-Series Sedan model year has the most complaints?

The 1999 and 2001 model years tie, with 4 complaints each out of 17. The next are 2000 (3) and 2002 (3). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Saturn S-Series Sedan complaint?

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often: 6 complaints, or 35.3% of all 17. Electrical System (4) and Air Bags (2) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Saturn S-Series Sedan?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Saturn dealer.

How many Saturn S-Series Sedan complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 17 complaints, 3 report a crash, 0 a fire, 2 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Saturn models

8 models · most complaints first

The Saturn models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Saturn VIN decoder with every Saturn model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • Saturn Ion 2003–2008 · 10 recalls · 4,343 complaints
  • Saturn Vue 2002–2010 · 7 recalls · 2,351 complaints
  • Saturn SL 1995–2002 · 12 recalls · 1,605 complaints
  • Saturn LS 2000–2004 · 12 recalls · 1,458 complaints
  • Saturn Aura 2000–2010 · 5 recalls · 1,439 complaints
  • Saturn Outlook 2007–2010 · 10 recalls · 1,352 complaints
  • Saturn Sky 2007–2010 · 5 recalls · 516 complaints
  • Saturn SC1 1995–2001 · 6 recalls · 252 complaints

All Saturn models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.